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Builders in the West Midlands

Building work across Birmingham and the Black Country ranges from a single-storey rear extension in Kings Heath or Bearwood to a full loft conversion in the Edwardian terraces of Moseley and Handsworth, or opening up a Victorian mid-terrace in Smethwick or Aston. Housing stock varies street by street — solid brick Victorian and Edwardian walls, 1930s cavity semis, and post-war and newer builds all behave differently when you start altering them, which is why a builder who has worked on similar properties locally is worth asking about.

Structural alterations, extensions and conversions almost always sit alongside separate legal processes — planning permission, building control approval, and sometimes a party wall agreement with a neighbour — and it is worth understanding early which of these apply to your project, since a builder's quote and a local authority's requirements are two different things. Describe the work, the property type and its age when you post on FixAll-er, and you will hear from builders interested in quoting.

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Typical building work jobs

What to think about before you book

Planning permission and permitted development

Many single-storey extensions and loft conversions fall within permitted development rights and do not need planning permission, but limits on size, height and proximity to boundaries apply, and these can be removed or restricted on some properties — for example flats, listed buildings, or homes in a conservation area. Check with the relevant local planning authority (Birmingham City Council, Sandwell, Dudley, Solihull or Walsall, depending on where the property sits) before assuming a project is permitted development, or ask a builder or architect to advise.

Building control is separate from planning

Building control sign-off checks that the work meets building regulations — structural safety, fire safety, insulation, drainage and so on — and is required for most structural work regardless of whether planning permission was needed. This can be arranged through the local authority's building control team or an approved private inspector. Ask which route your builder proposes to use and get it agreed before work starts, not after.

Party wall matters

If work involves a shared wall with a neighbour, cutting into a party wall, or excavating near a neighbour's foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. This usually means serving formal notice on affected neighbours before work starts, and can require a party wall surveyor if they do not consent. This is a separate legal step from planning and building control, and it is worth finding out early whether your project triggers it, since it affects timing.

Load-bearing walls and structural calculations

Removing or altering a load-bearing wall normally needs a structural engineer's calculations for the beam or support required, which building control will want to see. Ask whether your builder arranges this themselves, works with an engineer they use regularly, or expects you to commission the calculations separately.

A written scope of work

For anything beyond small repairs, ask for a written specification covering what is included, what materials are being used, who supplies what, an approximate timescale, and how variations to the original plan will be priced. This is the single most useful document for avoiding disagreements later, and a builder who is reluctant to put the scope in writing is worth being cautious about.

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Building Work: common questions

Do I need planning permission for my extension or loft conversion?
It depends on the size, position and type of property — many projects fall under permitted development, but flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and conservation areas have tighter rules, and permitted development rights can already have been used up or removed on a property. Check directly with your local planning authority or ask a builder or architect to confirm before committing to a design.
What is the difference between planning permission and building control approval?
Planning permission is about whether you are allowed to build something in that location, size and form. Building control (under the Building Regulations) is about whether the work is built safely and to technical standards once it goes ahead. A project can need one, both, or occasionally neither, but structural work almost always needs building control sign-off.
When does the Party Wall Act apply?
It generally applies to work directly on or touching a shared wall or boundary with a neighbouring property, or excavation near a neighbour's foundations. It does not generally apply to a detached extension well away from a boundary. If in doubt, it is worth checking with a party wall surveyor or your builder before starting, since the notice period needed can affect your timeline.
Should I get a written contract for building work?
For anything beyond very minor jobs, yes. A clear written scope — covering the work, materials, exclusions, payment stages and how changes are priced — protects both sides and is standard practice for reputable builders on any project of meaningful size.
What should I include when posting a building job?
The type of property and its rough age, what you want done, whether you already have drawings or planning permission, and any access constraints (shared drives, narrow entries, on-street parking). That is usually enough for a builder to give an informed initial response before a site visit.

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